India Khelo Football partners with 343; to host trials in Kohima, Dimapur

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Dec. 14 (EMN): India Khelo Football (IKF), a non-profit organisation connecting Indian football grassroots talent with the professional football ecosystem, has appointed 343, formerly known as Nagaland Futsal League, as their regional execution partner to host trials in Kohima and Dimapur districts for boys under the age group of 13-17.

‘With IKF and 343 sharing common goals, the collaboration took place,’ stated Jungshi Jamir and Suya Temjen Longkumer, founders of 343 at a press conference in Dimapur on Wednesday.

As IKF gets ready to kick off Asia’s biggest trials in Nagaland, Jamir informed that one can register online or on the spot in Kohima on Dec. 16 at Indira Gandhi Stadium and on Dec.17 at Greenwood School, Kuda Half Nagarjan in Dimapur.

Jamir said, “We are elated to partner with IKF to host their trials in the state. Nagaland has highly skilled and spirited players and spectators who love the game and follow it religiously. The association with IKF is an important step towards tapping the potential in the region and will surely accelerate the interest in playing, as well as developing a viable career for aspiring players in football”.

“The selected boys will qualify for IKF pre-finals and national pre-finals and finals, where ISL and I-League teams, and International scouts will come to scout the untapped talent pool in the country. Shortlisted players from the national finals will also get a chance to win free trials in Europe. IKF has already covered 20+ cities and will be going to more cities including Kolkata, Mumbai, Nilgiri, Vadodara to name a few before  Jan.8 2023”, Hiten Joshi the co-founder of IKF said via video conference.

Joshi expressed that IKF was excited to partner with 343 to help extend their platform in Nagaland and provide kids with a professional football platform in India and abroad. “With IKF’s inception in 2020, the first season was held in 17+ cities, witnessing an enrolment of 3000+ kids where 104+ finalists performed in front of ISL, I-League, and international scouts, out of which 20+ finalists were selected for trials by ISL & I League clubs. Out of which seven kids with the utmost potential in the game are gearing up for trials in Spain free of cost”, Joshi maintained.

“IKF aims to holistically develop a self-sustainable environment for India to begin the international footprint with opportunities in the form of clubs, agents and scouts. IKF publicly releases a summary report of all kids selected from the city trials, consisting of the player’s strengths and weaknesses on the ground. Prior to the national finals, IKF is hosting Pro Soccer Global workshop which will host Premier League scouts organising workshops in India for the first time”.